Printing gauge



June 30, m5 n 1,543,991

' G. DE PAMPHILIS PRINTING GAUGE Filed March 3, 1925 fh, f

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Patented .lune 36:9, 1925.

UNEF-E@ S'Fiii GENNARO DEVPAMPHLIS, 0F NEW YORK, N.

PRINTING GAUGE.

Application filed March 3, 1925. .SeriaI No. 12,927.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, GENNARO Dn PAM- rHrLrs, a citizen of the United States, and resident of the borough of Manhattan, in the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Printing Gauges, of which the following is a specilication.

This invention relates to sheet gauges or guides for platen printing presses, and its primary object is to provide a gauge which may be firmly secured to the tympan or sheet drawn lover the platen, the construction of which is simpler and less obtrusive than that of lsimilar devices heretofore in use.

Another object is to provide a sheet gauge or guide of a novel and improved construction, for the'purpose set forth, having means for the positive indication and control ofl the amount of adjustment necessary when setting-the gauge or gauges for a given printing` job.

A further object is to provide, in a device of the character mentioned, means insuring the accurate placement of the sheets, and means permitting instant control thereof.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be fully set forth as the description proceeds, and will be claimed in the appended claims.

In platen printing presses, sheets to be printed, are successively placed upon the platen and pushed 'against gauges which have been previously set in the proper position,andwhich insure proper feeding of the sheets in order pression.

It is very necessary that the gauges be accurately placed; it is also necessary that the gauges do not interfere with the printing operation by unduly projecting in the sense of their height, or in a horizontal sense.

The universal practice is to secure a sheet or tympan upon the platen, and to set the gauges upon said tympan, without defacing the platen.

Various types of removable gauges have been suggested, some being provided with points to be forced through the tympan, others consisting of an upper and a lower clamping plate, adapted to clamp thetympan by inserting the lower plate'through a slit cut made through the tympan for this purpose. The gauges of the rst mentioned to produce an exact imtype are unsatisfactory because it .has been found that they tear and bulge the tympan; and the gauges of the second mentioned type are generally too large for the purpose for which they are intended, extending both in a vertical and in a horizontal sense so as to interfere with the placement of grippers, and their proper adjustment is largely a matter of guess worl.

Owing to the difficulties experienced with such removable metallic gauges as are available, most printers prefer to simply fix pieces of lead upon the tympan, in spite of the loss of time that their proper placement entails.

This method, however, is admittedly' crude and could be replaced to great advantage by a properly designed gauge of the removable and adjustable type, such as I claim my invention to be.

In the accompanying drawings, which are intended for illustrative purposes only, and

not in a limiting sense, I show the preferred embodiment of my invention, and in the same: l s Fig. 1 is a plan view of a platen showing three of my improved gauges in position;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the tympan, in an enlarged scale, showing the cut made throughit for the insertion of my improved gauge in position;

Fig. 3 is a view in perspective ofl the gauge plate;

Fig. 4 is a view in perspective of the clamping nut;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the same;

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view in elevation of the gauge in operative position;

Fig. 7 is a similar view showing the use of a stripper in connection with the gauge;

Fig. 8 is a view in perspective ofthe stripper used in the arrangement of Fig. 7 i F 9 is a cross sectional view in elevation of the gauge used in connection with a gauge extension member 'for ruling operations; and,

Fig. 10 is a view in extension member.

ln Fig-.1, 10 designates theplaten, 11 the tympan, 12, 13, the means for retaining or clamping the tympan in position; 14 is the sheet-to be printed, resting on the tympan, and positioned by meansof side gauges 1 5., 16, and end gauge 17. Gauge 16 is shown in connection with the stripper 17.

The gauge consists, essentially, of an elonperspective of the said gated plate 18, one end of which, 19, is the clamping end, to which is fixed a threaded stud, 20, upwardly projecting from the plate. Upon said stud is screwed a relatively thin nut 21, formed with a hub portion 22, the lower surface of whichk acts as a Vclamping surface, and the side ory cylindrical surface of which acts as the gauging means. The upper portion of said nut extends to form a crown 23 of a larger diamen ter, having a knurled or indented rim 2a facilitating the operation of the nut for clamping or releasing purposes. f Y

By inserting stud 2O through the tympan, then tightly screwing the nut in position, the

tympan remains clamped between the platev A slit or cut, of a widthsulticient toreceive stud 20.

Theclaniping end ofthe plate is then inserted throughslit 25 and is moved inwardly to a point where stud 2O is not quite atthe end of the slot 26; so that in this positionA the slot permits furtheradjustment of theV plate in either direction. The nut is then inserted on the stud, and the device is clamped in position, with its plate extending in 'a direction at right angles to the edge of the sheet. l z p The correct number of gauges, usually three, as shown in Fig. 1, are placed at first at positions which are as'closely approxin mate as possible to the correct position called for by the sheets to be fed on the platen,

making only relatively small adjustments subsequently necessary'.

The clamping action actually occurs at the sides of slot 26, which are in a direction normal to the edge'of the sheet, as goed practice requires; with the additional advantage that the clamping takes place on both'sides of the stud, providing a well bal-y anced action in relation to the longitudinal axis of the plate. The device in this position is shown in Fig. 6, where 111 is the sheet which is set against the cylindrical surface of the hub portionof the nut. i i

An important featureof the device isa graduation 27, which may be by points according -to the pica system, provided at the rear end of one or both sides of the plate.

The three gauges having been secured in position asshown in Fig. 1, a trial proof is obtained by placing the sheet with one of its sides against the hub of the nuts of gauges 15, 16, and one of its ends against thehub of the nut of gauge 17. Examination of this proof by "the foreman will disclose whether the positioning of the sheets is cor rect or not; if not, it is sutlicient for the foreman to issue instructions'that the position be corrected one or more points inwardly or outwardly. It is then sufficient to make a mark on the tympan, as at 28 in Fig. 1, corresponding to one of the marks on graduation 27; and by means of the graduation the gauge plate may be moved to or away from the paper the proper distance, absolutely eliminating all guess work.

Crown 23 of the nut is preferably provided with through openings 29, through which the cylindrical surface of the hub is visible; this permits instant verification of the correct positioning of each sheet as it is placed upon the platen` the operator makin(Y sure that the edges abut against the cylindrical surface of the hub portion of the nuts.

AnotherV feature of my invention which,

although not strictly necessary, l have lfound u very useful, is the provision of slight protuberances 30 from the clamping end of the plate, external to the diameter of the hub.

`lilith arolono'ed use the nuts sometimes become a little bit loose, and require tightening; when this occurs, it may happen that one or more sheets may penetrate between the clamping surface of the nut and the surface of the tympan, before the operator is aware ofthe loosened condition of the nut. As a consequence waste, poor work and delay may result. The protuberances mentioned will cause corresponding points of the surface of the tympan` to bulge. or become slightly raised above the level of the clamping sur face ofthe nut, as Fig. 6 shows,.and therefore the edge o`f sheet 111 will be prevented from entering underneath nut 21 if perchance the nut were to become loose.`

The device may at times be used ineen nection with a stripper, .such as shown in Figs. 7, S. The stripper has the object of providing an inwardly extending guide, preferably with an upwardly inclined end, as shown at 31, facilitating the insertionof the sheets, and is preferably made of yielding material, such as spring steel. The use of the stripper is also illustrated in connection with gauge 16 in Fig. 1. l

Thelstripper itself is not new in connection with devices of this kind, but the type of stripper shown yand the manner of its operation are new, and constitute an improvement over other similar devices heretofore inv use. A

The stripper is a tliree-pronged member made of flat spring steel, comprising a rear` bridge portion 32V having an upwardly bent portion orrear edge 38, and formed with two forwardly extending prongs-34, 35, separated lby Va space 36 wide enough for the passage of the hub portion 22 of the nut,

izo

'wardly in a said two prongs having an upturned end 3l, as stated. This member' also kcomprises a, shorter central forwardly extending" prong 37, formed with an end portion 38 raised or buiging as shown in Fig. 8,7to provide a goed frictional contactof said prong'against the surface of a shallowfslot or housing 39, undercut longitudinally of plate 18 at its rear end, as shown in Fig. 3. To provide a better grip, I prefer to make the surface of the spring portion 38 knurled or rough 0r provided with indentations, and to roughen the surface of slot 39 in a similar manner, as Fig. 6 shows. To insert or remove the stripper, it is suiiicient to hold it by means of its upturned portion 33, inserting the end of prong 37 through slot 39, and pushing it forward, or to pull it out in the reverse direction for its removal. By virtue of this construction, no projecting parts or guides are needed for the insertion of the stripper, which does not materially affect the thickness of the device.

In Fig. 9 I illustrate the use of another attachment which is shown in 10.

` Vihen the device' is used in the manner previously described, part of the edge of the sheet to be printed is covered by the crown 23 of the nut, as Figs. l, 6 and 7 show. rlhis arrangement may, and usually does inter- Y fere with the running of rules close to the margin, and a blank space has to be left between the ruled portion and the edges of the sheet.

rl'he attachnient .illustrated permits of running the rules right up to the margin of the sheet, and this is a marked advantage in the printing of forms, such as estimate ilanks and the like, where the information .is rather crowded, and where a considerable number of columnar spaces is required. The device is, essentially, an extension of the gauge head, which is narrow enough to be inserted in the space between two consecutive lines of the ruling.

In its preferred form the attachment is made of sheet metal, and is formed with a forked rear end 4l which may be inserted between the nut and the tympan, and clamped in position by the nut, as shown in Fig. 9. The slot 42 at said end is wide enough to ,admit stud 20 to pass through, and permits adjustment of the attachment in relation to the gauge head. Said part 4l extends towards the front in the form of a narrow tongue 43, the width of which is less than the distance between two consecutive line-s in the ruling; and at its forward end said tongue is bent downwardly and inwardly, doubling the thickness of the metal at the tip, as shown at 44, for a relatively short tract, and is then bent downsupplementary gauge surface 45.

The tin, at 44, is slightly curved upwardly to facil'- vertical direction, forming a.

itate the insertion of 'they sheets; and the vertical gauge portion preferably terminates with a. rough or two pointed edge, as shown at 46, gripping or piercing the tympan when forced 1n position by the nut, as shownv 1n Fig. 9.V Y

ln this manner, the gaugehead becomes extended in the form of a narrow tongue, which is adjusted to fall between two lines of the ruling, and which does not in the least interfere with the ruling` operation; and at the same time all the advantages of the device, as outlined before, are retained.

My invention may be carried into practice in ways somewhat different from that shown, by altering some minor details which do not depart from the inventive idea; therefore I reserve myself the right to claim my invention as broadly as the prior art will permit. A

I claim:

l. A printing gauge consisting of an elongated plate provided with a threaded stud at one end thereof, and a nut having a clamping hub portion adapted to be screwed upon said stud, forming a gauge head therefor.

2. A printing gauge consisting' of an elongated plate provided with a threaded stud at one end thereof, a nut having a clamping` hub portion adapted to be screwed upon said stud forming a, gauge head therefor, and a graduation on said plate in the sense of its adjustment to and from the gauging position.

3. A. printing gauge consisting of an elongated plate provided with a threaded stud at' one end thereof, a nut having a clamping hub portion adapted to be screwed upon said stud, forming a gauge head therefor, and portions at said gauge head end raised above the clamping level of said nut.

4. A printing` gauge consisting' of an elongated clamping plate provided with a threaded stud, and a nut adapted to be screwed upon said stud, comprising a cylindrical clamping hub portion, forming a gauge head therefor and a crown portion of a larger diameter, having perforations whereby said hub portion will be made visible through said crown portion.

5. A printing gauge consisting of an elongated plate provided with a threaded stud at one end thereof, a nut adapted to bev screwed upon said stud, comprising a cy lindrical clamping hub portion, forming a gauge head therefor and a crown portion of a larger diameter, having perforat-ions whereby said hub portion will become visible through said crown portion. and a gradua! tion upon one of the sides of said plate.

6. A printing` gauge consisting` of an elongated plate provided with a threaded stud. at one end thereof, a nut adapted to be screwed upon said stud, comprising a cy- ,lindrical clamping hub portion, forming a comprisingxan elo gauge head therefor and aforown portion of ed Stud'at one end thereof, and a clamping a larger diameter, having perforations nut adapted to be screwed upon said stud, through which 'said hub portion will besaid clamping plate being provided with an 5 come visible, a graduation uponv one of the undercut longitudinal slot at the other end, Y sides of said plate, and portions at the gauge with a stripper comprising two Side eXten- 15 headA end of said plate raised above the sions, and a central prong adapted to be clamping level of said nut. 'inserted Within said slot.

71` The combination of a printing gauge p `GENNARO DE PAMPHILIS.

ngated plate with a thread- 10 

